Simon Busuttil this evening launched a strong attack at the prime minister after he threatened to repatriate migrants who arrived this morning.
He asked in parliament how the prime minister could sleep soundly tonight after having been prepared to send back people who were escaping hardship.
He asked how the government could be prepared to act in breach of international law and a European Court decision.
Even if the repatriations did not take place, he said, Malta had, at a stroke, wiped off the good will built over the years between the EU and Malta.
What the government had intended to do was morally, politically and legally wrong and contrasted sharply with the Pope's message given just yesterday.
The Pope had spoken of the globalisation of indifference and now the government was showing a gross lack of humanity.
To be prepared to send migrants back when this had been declared as a breach of human rights by the European Court was inhuman.
How could migrants be sent back without being given the chance to apply for their rights, according to law?
Politically, what the government was doing had harmed the reputation built over the years with the EU, Dr Busuttil said.
Dr Busuttil asked the Prime Minister what was his reply to the NGOs who were protesting for the Government not to continue acting in such an inhuman manner and who were calling on the Government to respect international and EU law.
There were ways of taking action in a decent manner and there was no reason to push the nuclear button, or, indeed, the panic button.
Nationalist Governments had taken action in a decent manner and it was wrong and deceitful to say that the Nationalist government had not gotten anywhere.
Over seven years, Malta received €130 million just for immigration. This led to the modernisation of the AFM fleet and the army now had all the equipment it needed for coastal surveillance.
But apart from financial solidarity Malta also requested solidarity through resettlement for people requesting humanitarian protection.
EU countries took 700 people from Malta and although this was not enough, the number was not insignificant. The US also took 1,300. Although this was also not enough, it was an act of solidarity which should be praised.
One also had to remember that there were other political and economic consequences. Through its actions, the government was threatening the 1,128 million euros promised to Malta some days ago.
The government also had to remember that Malta was part of the EU and when it criticised the EU, it was criticising itself.
Dr Busuttil asked how many meetings has the minister held with the EU on the subject in the past four months.
He said that the Opposition was willing to cooperate and support the government in its pressure on the EU, Libya and countries of origin but it would only do this as long as it had a guarantee that Malta would not breach fundamental human rights.
If the government was capable of sending back these people back to where they came from, what guarantee did the people have that the government would protect them if they needed protection.
Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the prime minister's decision was a shame and it was embarrassing that it had to be the European Court to stop the government's plans to repatriate the migrants.